California Department of Transportation

RECOVERY ACT FUNDED PROJECT BREAKS GROUND ON STATE ROUTE 76

San Diego County - Caltrans today announced the start of construction for extension of State Route 76 between Melrose Drive and South Mission Road, financed partially by President Obama's American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act). This project and many others around the state are being completed sooner than expected thanks to Governor Schwarzenegger's efforts to expedite Recovery Act funding.

"My Administration is working hand-in-hand with President Obama's team to ensure stimulus dollars are pumped into California quickly and responsibly to stimulate the economy and in this instance - invest in the future of California's transportation infrastructure," said Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

The average daily traffic volume for this stretch of freeway is about 30,000 and is expected to double by 2030. This $181.6 million project will help to reduce current and future congestion.

The Recovery Act will provide $75.3 million for construction. The project will also receive $16.8 million in Federal Demonstration Funds, $13.5 million in state funds and $76 million from the TransNet sales tax administered by the San Diego Association of Governments. The construction contract was awarded to Flatiron, Inc. of San Marcos.

"These Recovery Act dollars are bringing much needed freeway improvements to North County motorists," said Caltrans Director Randell Iwasaki. "These dollars will also create or retain nearly 3,300 jobs during the course of the project."

Under Governor Schwarzenegger's leadership, California leads the nation with $2.2 billion in Recovery Act funding obligated to 756 highway and local street transportation projects statewide. Of these, 427 projects worth $2.36 billion have been awarded contracts to begin work, with an additional $317 million in federal stimulus funds expected to be awarded to 106 projects by April 2010. For more information on the Recovery Act visit: http://recovery.ca.gov/.